The Christmas Season December 2016

Dear Members and Friends at God’s Love,We find ourselves in the middle of the Advent season. At each beginning of the liturgical calendar, I try to take a deep breath and figure out what I need to slow down and pay attention to leading into the Christmas feast this time around.

I came up with a few things. First, I need to take time before Advent worship to be quiet and cultivate a sense of awe and awareness. We often overlook the value of prelude music and silent prayer for preparing our hearts for worship. Second, I need to take time to read through the Gospel of Matthew in one sitting. Matthew’s Gospel is the focus of lectionary Year A that we are just starting. Third, I need to participate in our congregation’s marvelous service opportunities to aid the poor and suffering. Fourth, I need to be grateful for the gifts that are not always so obvious to me. This includes my own dear family members who happen to be my nearest neighbors and need my patience and kindness.

Thank you for the privilege of serving as one of your pastors during this Advent-Christmas cycle. I cherish our partnership in the truly good news that God is with us as Emmanuel. Your brother in Christ, Pastor Dan Whitener

Christmas ServicesSaturday, December 24: Christmas Eve

4:00pm Children’s Service with glow sticks, no communion, pageant with participation of any/all children, lots of Christmas hymns with piano accompaniment

6:00pm Contemporary candlelight service with communion, music provided by our praise band Rejoice!

9:00pm Traditional candlelight service with communion, music provided by organ, vocal choir, and handbells

Sunday, December 25: Christmas Day

10:00am lessons and carols, pianist Tom Baust

Deliveries in NovemberOn Sunday, November 13 we brought to the Seaman’s Church Institute in Philadelphia the following:

50 – 60 ditty bag contents 54 tins of cookies 20 bags of warm clothingOn Tuesday, November 22, 2016 we made a delivery to Bucks County Housing Group of:

On Sunday, December 18 the Adult Choir will perform a cantata at

both 9am and 11am services. Under the direction of Pat Guth, and with the help of two

Saturday, December 10 8:30am

In addition to sharing a warm meal, we plan to work around the building; setting up the Christmas tree in the sanctuary and cleaning up the flowerbeds. If any young men could join us, we would appreciate it. Please contact Eric Nordberg at 215-499-0924.

10 frozen turkeys 2 boxes of non-perishable food collected from preschool 1 box of non-perishable food collected from church

December CollectionThis month we will collect non-perishables for the homeless shelter in Levittown. Collection box is in the Commons. Thanks!

narrators, we will tell the story of “Jesus! The Advent of the Messiah” by Mary McDonald and Rose Aspinall.

Come and get into the Christmas spirit!

Cookie Give Away/Hanging of the Greens

Christmas can be a lonely time for shut-ins, folks in nursing homes and the less fortunate. A small gift can brighten their spirits.

We have 85 Christmas cookie tins waiting to be filled that we can share with others and we need your help, but first, we need cookies! If we fill each can with 3 dozen cookies we will need 255 dozen cookies. WE CAN DO IT! Please consider baking several dozen (or more) of your favorite cookie. Cookies can be stored in the church’s freezer.

On December 11 after the 11:00 service we will decorate the church and fill the cookie tins.

All ages are invited to join in the fun on December 11 as we prepare for the birth of Christ and help spread some Christmas cheer.

Kitchen Project UpdateHave you seen the church kitchen lately? Thanks to the tireless efforts of Eric Nordberg, Bud Herman and Jack Broadnix, as well as numerous contractors, our kitchen remodel is progressing nicely. The new range hood is installed, inspections ordered, and appliances purchased. Congregation council would like to extend a special thank you to Bob and Louise Harman, whose generous donation in honor of Bob’s parents, George and Ernestine Harman, has enabled this project to move forward. Stay tuned in the new year for news of our final kitchen collection and fundraising efforts.

From the Financial SecretaryThrough October, we are at 92.5% of the envelope income projected to lead to a balanced budget for the year. We hope that strong giving over the final two months of the year will help us exceed that number. Council thanks everyone for their generous, faithful giving.

If you haven’t already done so, please turn in your pledge card. 2017 budget planning is underway, and a solid base of projected income helps us to generously fund all of our important ministries.

Christmas Day is the last Sunday in 2016. Because we need to match input into our financial data base with the actual bank deposits, the final deposit will be made Friday, December 30. If you want your end-of-year gift to be included on your 2016 church statement, please be sure the office receives it in the Christmas offerings, by mail, or in person by Thursday, December 29.  If you are unsure about how much of your pledge is outstanding, please contact me at plevenberg77@verizon.net. Final 2016 statements for your tax preparation will be available by the end of January 2017. Patti Levenberg, Financial Secretary

There may not be families in the program our next host week.

Please plan on serving unless you hear from us that you are not needed.

We will provide email updates.

Robin Pecuch or Karen Hoch, Coordinators

2016 Actual Current Giving

2016 Projected Giving

$300,650

$324,970

Envelope Giving throughOctober 2016

“Because of God’s Great Mercy”Stewardship Program 2017As of November 29, we have received Estimates of Giving from 90 families/individuals. Our stewardship

campaign is still open. It is not too late to make a pledge. Extra pledge cards are located in the Commons. Please leave your completed card in the basket.

Our church bases its programs on these estimates of giving, and we need to begin the budgeting process for next year. A full report on the stewardship campaign will be made early in 2017. Thanks to all for your generosity.Ed Pazicky and Melanie Jimenez, Stewardship Team

October 30 November 6 November 13

November 20

November 27

200173 169 168

203Worship Attendance 2016

God’s Caring StitchersAfter many months of hard work, we enjoyed our holiday luncheon and

fellowship on December 2. We will take a Christmas

break and meet again after the holidays. Stay tuned for our

startup date.

Questions, contact Cindy Sundstrom at

215-493-2484, or email cscrafter1@verizon.net

Sundays at 10amWe are continuing our inter-religious studies by seeking greater understanding of the faith traditions of our neighbors. The video documentary of Islam shown in November was particularly well-received. The DVDs entitled “Discover

Islam” as well as a copy of an English translation of the Qur’an are available on the cafe bookshelf for anyone who would like to borrow them to learn more.

December’s sessions will include a look at Hinduism and Buddhism. We hope you will join us.

1. Sandy Anthony sent a letter recently thanking the congregation for The Spirit of God’s Love award that she received in worship on November 6. “Your kindness, love, and support mean the world to me. It has inspired me to do more and to try to live a life more centered in Christ.” [In Sandy’s honor, we sent a donation of $200 to ELCA World Hunger through their “Good Gifts” Program.]

2. The Lutheran Church of Our Saviour in Baton Rouge sent a thank you note. “Your caring support served the needs of the victims of the Baton Rouge flood and made a great difference in the lives of people who lost so much – homes, businesses, belongings, and security.” [We sent $500 in August to help the flood victims.]

3. The Seaman’s Church Institute “on behalf of the seafarers we serve, thank you for donating all the gifts and clothing for our Ditty Bag Project. Please accept our thanks for continued support

Senior Saints’ LunchMonday, December 19 at NoonWhere can you get a hot lunch for only $6? Come to church on Monday, December 19 at Noon. Our seniors (ages 65+) meet in Rooms A1/A2 for delicious food prepared by our chef, Amy Carr and her volunteers. Please call the church office if you are new to the group and would like to attend. Amy Carr, Coordinator and Chef

to help keep our visiting seafarers warm this cold winter.” [Our collection ran through November 13.]

Summer Mission Internship OpportunityLife in Abundance (the organization that is installing the CAN in Kenya) is launching a summer volunteer internship for college students and young adults ages 18 – 25 in the summer of 2017. The program is a 10-week “boots-on-the-ground” experience, partnering alongside the churches in various communities where LIA works. Work will most likely be in Kenya or Ethiopia in a wide variety of capacities that may include healthcare, orphan assistance, education, pastoral training, and/or economic development. Previous experience in these areas is not required—this internship is for anyone with a willingness to engage and serve where needed. Visit LifeInAbundance.org for details on the experience and the associated cost. Scholarship funds may be available through God’s Love. Contact Susan McDonnell for further information.

ASP 2017 Info SessionJoin past ASP participants for Pizza and Conversation on Saturday, January 7 at 5pm. Have you ever thought about going on the Summer Service Trip but you have a few questions? Now’s your chance! Come and chat with youth and young adults who have gone before—some of whom will be going again this year! Learn more about what to expect, and hear personal testimonies of why ASP has been such a life changing experience. Friends are welcome and encouraged!

The dates for Summer 2017 are July 15 – 22. Youth are eligible if they have completed 8 – 12 grades in the spring of 2017. Adult Chaperone Candidates are also welcome! Come join the fun even if 2017 dates don’t work for you but you are interested in future trips.

December 2016Our 45 preschoolers were busy in October and November with fun activities: trips to Styers and Pennsbury Manor, Jack O’Lantern night with Dads, Halloween parades and our annual Harvest Social. Our program was centered on the first Thanksgiving with songs and stories. After that all our

families gathered in the Fellowship Hall for snacks.

In December the children will be learning about Advent and preparing for Christmas. We emphasize giving to others by collecting hats and mittens for the homeless shelter and making presents for our families.

Registration for the 2017 – 2018 school year begins on January 3 for congregation members, current attendees and alumni. Registration opens to the whole community on January 12. We have half day classes for 3, 4, and 5 year olds. For more information, please contact Janet Nelson at glcps@verizon.net or 215-497-0506.

Pray for Worship Leaders December 4: Bob Loven December 11: Andy Senft December 18: Larry Zetterberg December 24: Todd & Carol Stranahan December 25: John Shultz

Reformation 500Pastor Dan has selected some resource material that relate to Martin Luther and the upcoming 500th anniversary of the Reformation (October 2017). Look over the items on the table in the Commons. One side has resources you may take and keep; the other side has materials that you may borrow (honor system). Happy reading!

Tuesday, December 6 from 2pm – 7pmThe Red Cross will be here in Fellowship Hall.To make an appointment go to www.redcrossblood.org Thanks. Kathy Bauer, Coordinator

December 5: Janet and Nancy December 12: Ed & Janet December 19: Kathy & Eileen December 27: Janet, Ed, Fran & Joyce January 2: Janet & Nancy

December 2016Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1Staff Mtg 11am

2 Moishe & 8:30am Itzy’s Group

Knit&Crochet 12:30

3

4 St. Nicholas DayWorship 9amSunday School 10amWorship 11amNewMbrClass

12:15pm

5Counters 9am

6Red Cross Blood Drive 2pm–7pm

Rejoice 7:30pm

7

Bell Choir 6:30pmAdult Choir7:30pm

8Staff Mtg 11am

9 10 Men’s 8:30amBreakfastProperty 9:30amWorkday

11Worship 9amSunday School 10amWorship 11amDecorateChurch Noon

12Counters 9am

13

Rejoice 7:30pm

14

Bell Choir 6:30pmAdult Choir7:30pm

15Staff Mtg 11am

Church Council 6pm

16 17

Lutheran Church of God’s Love791 Newtown-Yardley RoadNewtown, PA 18940215.968.4335www.godslovenewtown.org

Rev. B. Daniel Whitenerprdanw@verizon.net

Rev. Marissa Kreyprmarissa@verizon.net

Kay Rozolisgods_love@verizon.net

Ken Weisensalelcgl_ken@verizon.net

December 2016Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

18 CantataWorship 9amSunday School 10amWorship 11am

19Counters 9amSr. Saints Lunch Noon

20

Rejoice 7:30pm

21

Bell Choir 6:30pmAdult Choir7:30pm

22

Staff Mtg 11am

23

OFFICE CLOSESAT NOON

24Christmas Eve Services:Children’s 4pmRejoice 6pmTraditional 9pm

25Christmas Day Service 10am

NOSUNDAY SCHOOL

26

OFFICE CLOSED

27Counters 9am

Rejoice 7:30pm

28

NO CHOIRS

29 30 31